Salary (File photo)
The Assembly Member of Bolazo Electoral Area in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region, Alex Wilson Kobina-Obo popularly known as Nana Alex has made a passionate appeal to government to put Assemblymen in Ghana on a monthly salary structure.
According to him, the work of the Assembly members is very tedious than that of Members of Parliament.
He made this utterance when the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) was presenting 40 motorbikes to the Assembly Members in the area to facilitate their work at Axim over the weekend.
Mr Kobina-Obo said Assembly members were the first point of call for people at the grassroots and needed regular financial support to promote rapid community development.
It is a known fact that assembly members do not receive monthly salaries, but only allowances during assembly meetings. They are also offered motorbikes as a means of transportation to enable them work effectively in the community.
He, therefore seized the opportunity to express his profound appreciation to the President Akufo-Addo-led administration for providing them with motorbikes.
The Assemblyman opined that their work is equally important to the work of Members of Parliament adding that their work is very difficult.
"I will use this opportunity to call on government to also pay we the Assembly Members as Members of Parliament are enjoying so that we can work effectively because we suffer, every day people come to us with invitation letters but we don't receive salaries and let me say that our work is very difficult than the MPs", he emphasized.
Mr Kobina-Obo noted that their work is gradually becoming unattractive because there is no monthly allowances attached to it and said when Assemblymen are empowered financially, they will do more to take local governance closer to the electorates.
He added that a regular allowance regime would make Assembly members more accountable and responsive to the needs of their communities, strengthen sub-structures and coordinate development.
On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Frank Okpenyen commended the Local Government Ministry for the support given to the Assembly Members to deepen the government system.
The MCE who once an Assemblyman emphasized that "The work of the Assembly Members is very difficult but I am with optimistic that these motorbikes will go a long way to enhance your work effectively".
He pleaded with Assembly Members to use the motorbikes to facilitate the development of the municipality.
He, therefore, seized the opportunity to advised them to always use their crash helmets when riding the bikes.
He added that if they failed to use the helmets when riding, the police will arrest them for breaking the regulations.
He urged them to regularly maintain their motorbikes to stay longer,
"Let us see that lives are very important so I will urge you to wear helmet always, we don't want to see any Assembly Member dying as a result of these motorbikes", he cautioned.
The MCE encouraged them to have trust in Akufo-Addo government and support the government so that in future this gesture will not be motorbikes but vehicles. On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Frank Okpenyen commended the Local Government Ministry for the support given to the Assembly Members to deepen the government system.
The MCE who once an Assemblyman emphasized that "The work of the Assembly Members is very difficult but I am with optimistic that these motorbikes will go a long way to enhance your work effectively".
He pleaded with Assembly Members to use the motorbikes to facilitate the development of the municipality.
He, therefore, seized the opportunity to advised them to always use their crash helmets when riding the bikes.
He added that if they failed to use the helmets when riding, the police will arrest them for breaking the regulations.
He urged them to regularly maintain their motorbikes to stay longer.
"Let us see that lives are very important so I will urge you to wear helmet always, we don't want to see any Assembly Member dying as a result of these motorbikes", he cautioned.
The MCE encouraged them to have trust in Akufo-Addo government and support the government so that in future this gesture will not be motorbikes but vehicles.
